One-sided Assault and Collective Bystanding
Online Outrage over Yongin School Violence Video
Some Raise Suspicions of Fabrication and Dispute over Authenticity
A video of school violence, believed to have been filmed in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, has been spreading online and is provoking nationwide outrage.
On February 8, a video allegedly showing school violence, reportedly filmed at a school in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, was posted on several online communities and social networking services (SNS). In the video, a student can be seen begging for the assault to stop, pleading, "Please don't do this." Despite these pleas, the perpetrating student ignores them and repeatedly punches the victim in the face. The victim, unable to properly resist, is beaten until they collapse to the floor and strike their head hard.
On the 8th, a school violence video reportedly filmed at a school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was uploaded to various online communities and social networking services (SNS). Screenshot from SNS.
What has caused even greater shock is the attitude of the surrounding students. Some can be seen laughing while filming the assault, while another group makes mocking remarks toward the victim, effectively condoning and encouraging the violence. The citizen who shared the video said, "This happened at a school in Yongin and shows a student being subjected to a one-sided assault," adding, "I hope the identity of the perpetrator is revealed and that strong punishment is imposed." The person went on to say, "As a parent, this is something I simply cannot accept," unable to hide their anger.
Public opinion grows: "Not just school bullying, but a serious crime"
Following the spread of the video, online criticism has mounted, with comments such as, "Even the students who filmed and laughed are all perpetrators," "This is not simple assault but close to attempted murder," and "This is not something that should end with school disciplinary measures." In particular, the scene in which the victim's head slams hard against the floor has sparked concerns that "there is a possibility of serious aftereffects such as cerebral hemorrhage, or even death."
On the 8th, a video of school bullying reportedly filmed at a school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was posted on several online communities and social networking services (SNS). Screenshot from SNS
This incident has also revived discussion of past cases in Japan where videos of school violence were exposed. In Japan, after a video of a group assault was released via SNS, not only the students who directly committed the violence but also those who filmed and distributed the footage were held criminally liable and faced strong social sanctions. At that time, Japanese society shared the recognition that "school bullying is not a minor deviation but a clear crime" and moved to improve related systems. Korean internet users are likewise raising their voices, saying, "Like in Japan, those who film and stand by should also be strictly punished," and "We need to make it clear that school bullying becomes a lifelong stigma."
Concerns over secondary victimization and dispute over authenticity of the video
When the video was first released, it was reportedly posted without the victim's face being blurred. This prompted a wave of criticism online, with comments such as, "Why wasn't the victim's face covered?" and "They claim to be exposing the assault but are causing another wound," as concerns over secondary harm spread. In particular, as the video rapidly circulated on SNS, a controversy emerged over its authenticity. In a mothers' online community in Yongin, a post appeared claiming, "There are rumors that this video was created with artificial intelligence (AI)," to which comments followed saying, "The facts need to be verified first," and "Reckless sharing can cause further harm."
On the other hand, some users shared screenshots of comments in which the victim in the video allegedly requested that the footage be taken down, arguing that "it appears to be a video of a real situation." As it became known that the victim had directly asked for the video to be removed, many began to place more weight on the possibility that it is a real incident rather than a fabricated clip. Alongside this, some internet users started trying to infer the filming location based on the background shown in the video. At around 8 p.m. on the same day, one user who posted under the title "Yongin school violence" focused on a red brick building visible across from the rooftop where the assault took place. Using a map application's street-view function, the user suggested that the building appeared to be a particular church and raised the possibility that the assault occurred on the rooftop of a nearby building.
When asked, "At first I thought it was an AI-generated video, but have you actually found the real location?" the user replied, "The most likely location where the assault took place appears to be the rooftop of a certain karaoke building." Other users who saw this responded by saying, "Doesn't this mean the location has now been pinpointed?" and "They must be caught and held accountable," urging that the perpetrators be apprehended.
However, some have cautioned that "identifying a location or individuals before the facts are confirmed can create another set of problems," calling for a more cautious approach. As of now, it has not been confirmed whether the police have officially launched an investigation, nor have the positions of the school or educational authorities been verified. The authenticity of the video, the time and place of filming, and the identities of the students involved all require further verification, and there are growing calls for a swift and transparent investigation by the relevant authorities.
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